Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said Sunday he wants lawmakers to take another vote on a tax relief package using the state’s surplus before the November elections.
“I still think we can get it done,” Vos told WISN-TV’s “UpFront.” “I think that we should go back in. I’ve asked the governor’s office to try to have us get another attempt to do it. Let’s come back and do it in June. We can get it done before November.”
The $1.8 billion package, negotiated with Gov. Tony Evers and Republican leaders, would have sent rebate checks to taxpayers, eliminated taxes on tips and overtime pay, provided property tax relief and boosted school funding, including special education.
The bill passed the Assembly but fell short in the Senate after all 15 Democrats and three Republicans voted against it. In all, 82 percent of Democrats voted against the bill while 96 percent voted to pass it.
A recent Marquette University Law School poll showed strong public support for the deal, with 80% of Wisconsinites saying lawmakers should have passed it. Support crossed party lines, with 77% of Republicans, 81% of independents and 82% of Democrats in favor. Even when informed of concerns about future budget deficits, 69% still supported acting now.
On Sunday, Vos singled out Republican Sen. Chris Kapenga, who voted against the deal, for criticism after Kapenga called its defeat a “failure of leadership” from Gov. Evers, Vos, and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu.
“Sen. Kapenga was one of the ones who pushed the hardest for rebates,” Vos said. “And my understanding is he told his caucus if rebate checks were included he could support the deal, and somehow he changed his mind.”
Vos said Kapenga did not respond to his messages during final efforts to secure votes and was instead caucusing with Democrats.
Before the deal was announced, Vos said leaders believed they had the votes to pass it and that at least some Democrats would vote for a bill that their party’s governor had negotiated.
“Obviously anybody who watches this knows I didn’t vote for Tony Evers. I’m not his biggest fan, but in this one circumstance, he did a really good job,” Vos said. “He sat down, he negotiated in good faith. We came to a compromise where everybody got what they thought was in the best interest of the people.”
Vos then urged Democrats in the Senate to reconsider their opposition to the agreement for the good of their constituents.
“They say they want to be in charge. Well, it means making hard decisions at times when you really have to step up, so they still have a chance,” he said.
Vos said the Assembly was ready to return to session and pass the bill and called on the governor’s office to help schedule another attempt.
“Why would we wait until November when most people are suffering right now?”
